Damon
The evening was a bit chilly as I and the Alpha sat at the dinner table. The table looked fancy with its nice dishes and shiny silverware. But there was an odd feeling in the air because two familiar faces were missing.
The Alpha, with his sharp eyes, noticed that Rina and her mom, Mathilde, weren't at the table. Their absence was noticeable, especially tonight. Rina was really sad about losing her dad, and it was hitting her hard. Because of this, they decided to eat dinner inside their room instead of joining us.
He was worried about her, and you could tell by the way he was acting. "Damon, where are Rina and Mathilde?" he asked, and his words felt serious. I shifted in my chair as I turned to him and answered.
"They can’t join us, Alpha," I said courteously, "Rina is still having a tough time after what happened to Goldenridge. The loss of her father hit her hard.”
His usual cold and calculating eyes softened. "Take care of her. Make sure she has everything she needs to deal with her grief," he said, genuinely concerned. It was highly unlikely my dad to be this way.
I nodded, a mix of emotions swirling inside me. My father saw displaying emotions as a weakness and kept his feelings hidden, even from me. It was the reason I addressed him as "Alpha" in public rather than calling him "Dad."
I stared at him, attempting to comprehend this unexpected display of kindness. His softer side had perpetually remained concealed behind a facade of authority and control. But now, he seemed genuinely concerned about Rina and the challenges she was facing. Perhaps my dad had a soft spot for Rina and her mother's sweet words. He always relished praise and flattery, and Rina had a knack for saying the right things at the right time. It seemed like a trait she had inherited from her mother. It was a quality I secretly hoped he would also recognize in the real Serena once things settled down.
The next day, as I diligently carried out my chores, a sudden knock at the door disrupted my routine. I opened the door, taken aback by the unexpected visitors. An omega stood there, accompanied by a warrior named Pierce, and between them, a she-wolf sobbed uncontrollably. I recognized Pierce as he often accompanied me on my pack business outside of Blood Rose. It was evident that Pierce and the distraught she-wolf were mates.
Pierce, a formidable warrior with a solemn demeanor, stepped forward. He respectfully gestured for the omega to excuse himself.
"Alpha Heir, this is Shey, Serena's cousin and her best friend," he introduced.
Shey, her eyes brimming with tears, added, "Greetings, Alpha Heir," she said respectfully in between sobs. "We've heard about what happened to Goldenridge, and we're deeply concerned about how Serena is holding up."
I nodded, grateful for their genuine care and understanding. "I appreciate that," I began, but then hesitated, mindful of the rules that prohibited visitors from seeing Serena's face. "But you know you can't see her, right? If you want, I can just tell her you visited."
Pierce's concern deepened, and he maintained his submissive stance. "We understand the rules, Alpha Heir, but you may not understand the bond between your future bride and my mate. I am certain that if you were to tell Serena about Shey, she would gladly meet her. Their bond is akin to that of sisters, and as they both have lost their fathers, we thought it would be best for them to share their grief with each other."
I let out a heavy sigh, my gaze shifting from Pierce to Shey. The weight of my decision hung heavily on my shoulders, and a sense of remorse gnawed at the edges of my conscience. "I'm sorry," I confessed, the words laden with the burden of truth. “But the answer is still a no.”
Shey's expression changed. Her eyes, once filled with hope, now reflected confusion and concern. "Why not, Alpha Heir?" she implored, her voice tinged with desperation. "Why would you deny me the chance to see her? Please, just give me a reason. I'm sure we can find some compromise."
My voice trembled with regret as I spoke the painful truth. "Because the woman I brought into the pack is an imposter."
"W-What do you mean?" the couple inquired in unison.
"The Serena I was with now was a fake," I explained, the weight of the deception heavy in my words. "She was not the one I met during the mating ritual. I'm still trying to find out what she and her mother did to the real Serena."